Banana Nut Layer Cake

Here's a recipe that's been around for many years, but more commonly in a loaf pan then a layer cake. There's just something special about a layer cake versus a loaf cake.

INGREDIENTS:

2/3 cup shortening
1 2/3 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1-1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1-1/4 tsp. baking powder
2/3 cup buttermilk*

1 1/2 c. mashed ripe bananas (about 4)
3/4 c. chopped walnuts or pecans
1 tsp. vanilla extract

PREPARATION:

Line the bottoms of 2 9" cake pans with wax paper and cover the sides with shortening.

Preheat the oven to 350 deg.

Measure the first 8 ingredients into mixing bowl. Beat for 2 minutes on low speed. Add bananas, and vanilla continue beating for another 2 minutes. Fold in the nuts. Pour into 9 inch prepared cake pans.

BAKING:

Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes. When done, place on rack to cool 5 minutes before turning out of pans.

When completely cool, ice the cake with the icing (see below). Yields one layer cake.

ICING:

1/4 lb. butter

1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese

1 tsp. vanilla

1 lb. confectioner's sugar

PRPARATION:

Beat the butter and cream cheese until creamy. Add the vanilla and sugar, mixing well until smoothly blended.

* Add one tablespoon of white vinegar to a liquid measuring cup. Then, add milk until the amount reaches one cup. Let the mixture stand at room temperature for 5-10 minutes. It should look curdled. Stir and you have buttermilk.

Potica (Pōteetza)

The Slovaks of the former Yugoslavia have prepared Potica for years. My wife's Croatian Grandmother passed this recipe down though her family. Now Louisa makes this lusciously rich nut roll every year as part of our Christmas celebration.

INGREDIENTS:

Walnut Filling:

2 Lbs ground walnuts

3 cup milk

1 cup granulated sugar

¼ Lb. butter

1 cup honey

4 eggs (beaten)

1 teaspoon Vanilla

PREPARATION:

The Day Before-

Grind the nuts, beat the eggs. Melt the butter in a medium sized pot. Then add the milk, sugar, honey, beaten eggs and vanilla. Continue heating over medium heat, all the while mixing until well blended. Add the ground nuts, continue mixing. Bring it to just a bubbling, reduce the heat, cover (ajar), continue cooking until the filling thickens. (About 30 min). Stir frequently to prevent sticking or scorching.  Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool. Refrigerate overnight.

Preparing the SWEET DOUGH

INGREDIENTS:

½ Cup warm water

2 package active dry yeast (NOT Rapid Rise)

1-½ cups lukewarm milk

½ granulated sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

½ cup soft shortening (Vegetable oil or Crisco)

7 to 7½ cups all-purpose flour divided

PREPARATION:

Preheat the oven to 350 deg.

Measure the water into a large mixing bowl, add the yeast letting it dissolve. Heat the milk (lukewarm) in a medium pot, add the sugar, salt, eggs and shortening. Mixing well. (Make sure the mixture is just warm and not hot as it will kill the yeast!). Add the mixture to the bowl containing the yeast along with 3-½ cups of flour. Mix with a spoon until smooth. Add additional flour so it handles easily.

Turn out onto a floured surface (counter top or?) and knead until smooth and elastic (about 5 min.). Round it up and place in a greased bowl, grease side up. Cover with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm place (no drafts) until it doubles in size(about 1-½ hours).

Punch it down, let it rise again until it doubles (about 45 min.).  Divide the dough in half. Roll out almost paper thin (1/16" thick) into an oblong shape about 20" by 30". Spread ½ of the previously prepared walnut filling over the dough, staying back from the edges about ½". Now, starting at the wide side, roll up the dough and filling like a "jelly roll". Turn the short edges in as you go along. Spread a thin film of water along the long edge and seal the roll by pinching the edge into the dough.

Repeat the procedure with the other half of dough and filling.

Grease a large cookie sheet and lay the two rolls about 3" apart, cover with a damp cloth and let them raise for 1 hour.

Place the cookie sheet in the oven and bake at 350 deg. for 1 to 1-¼ hours until they are nicely browned.

It freezes well so make extra!

Blondie's (Blonde Brownies)

We just bought a new Calphalon non stick baking pan, so we thought what better way to christen it, than make up a batch of Blondie's. Our recipe is a little less sweet and is less strong in "molasses" due to the smaller amount of sugar and the use of Light Brown sugar than other recipes.

 

INGREDIENTS:

2+ cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1-1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
2/3 cups butter
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 c Semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup walnuts
1/3 cup dried cranberries

PREPARATION:

Chop the nuts and soften the butter in a micro.

Stir the butter, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla together mixing well. Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture. Blend in the cranberries, chips and 1/2 the nuts.

Lightly spray a 13 x 9 non stick pan with non-stick spray. Spread the mixture in the pan and sprinkle with the  remaining of nuts

COOKING:

Bake 340° for 20-25 min. Check with a tooth pick toothpick inserted into the center after 20 min. When it comes out almost clean, their done.  Let the Blondie's cool in the pan. Then cut in bars

Kitchen Cabinet Cake*

INGREDIENTS:

2 large eggs

1 cup buttermilk **

1 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup applesauce

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1 ½ tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

2 ¾ cups flour

½ cup chopped walnuts

PREPARATION:

In a large bowl, blend the first six ingredients, eggs, milk, oil, cream, applesauce, vanilla. Add in dry ingredients, one at a time, sugar, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder& soda, salt and flour. Blend in Walnuts last with spatula, mixing well.

Grease and flour a 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan. Sprinkle bottom with a little sugar, about 1 tablespoon.

Pour mixture into baking pan, making sure the top is smooth and even.

TOPPING:

2 apples (any variety)

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

Mix together sugar and cinnamon. Peel and core apples. Slice apples into thin slices, then layer the top with sliced them. Sprinkle sugar/cinnamon mixture on the apples.

BAKING:

Bake at 325 degrees for 60 minutes. Check for doneness with a toothpick. When it come out up clean, remove cake from oven. If cake is not quite done, check every five minutes toothpick comes up clean. Do not overcook.

*Because most everything in the cabinets goes in it.

** How to make Buttermilk

Combine 1 cup of milk and 41/2 tea spoons of either white vinegar or lemon juice.

Stir and let stand for about 15-20 minutes or until mixture curdles.

My wife has been making and fiddling with this recipe for some time now. Wish the source of the original was known.

Blueberry Pie from scratch

Wow was I surprised yesterday! My wife came home from the market with several packages of fresh blueberries. Then she went to work and made this blueberry pie from scratch – that’s right! Flour, berries spices and all. In a word delicious.

I didn’t post the recipe, but if you want it, just make a note in the “Comments” block and I’ll post it.